Google is Putting £1 million into Fighting Online Extremism in the UK

Google is poised to invest £1 million in fighting online extremism across the UK.

The tech giant has set up a Britain-specific fund as a part of its global effort against violent and vitriolic content posted online, to which it pledged $5 million (£3.6 million.)

In the UK, the funds will be funnelled through a partnership with counter-extremism organisation Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD).

Applicants will be able to submit their projects starting in November. Eventually, an independent team of academics, educators, creatives, technologist and policy experts will distribute the funding to the most successful applicants — through grants between £2,000 and £200,000.

According to Google’s official statement, the funding will try to support “technology-driven solutions, as well as grassroots efforts such as community youth projects that help build communities and promote resistance to radicalisation.”

Google general counsel Kent Walker also commented on the launch of the initiative in a statement: “By funding experts like ISD, we hope to support sustainable solutions to extremism both online and offline. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re committed to playing our part. We’re looking forward to helping bring new ideas and technologies to life.”

ISD chief executive Sasha Havlicek also commented on the project: “We are eager to work with a wide range of innovators on developing their ideas in the coming months.”